of exchanging them with the inhabitants of this City for their Clock-Weights.

Resolved, That Mr. David Rittenhouse and Mr. Owen Biddle do engage immediately with proper persons to make the following quantities and qualities of Shot, to be delivered this Board with the greatest expedition, viz: fifty tons Round-Shot, sorted to the different sized cannon now in use in this Province; five tons Chain-Shot, sorted; five tons Bar-Shot, sorted; ten tons Grape-Shot.

In Committee of Safety, May 10, 1776.

Present: Thomas Wharton, Chairman, Robert Morris, John Nixon, Daniel Roberdeau, Owen Biddle, David Rittenhouse, Samuel Howell, Samuel Morris, Jun., George Clymer, Henry Wynkoop.

Upon application of Mr. Henry Wynkoop for the payment of four Fire-locks purchased by him for the use of Congress, by order of the Board an Order was drawn on Messrs. John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, for seven Pounds seventeen Shillings and six Pence, which is to be charged to Arms purchased for account of Congress.

Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Cuthbert and Mr. John Britton be desired to purchase four old Flats for Hulks, for covering the Gondolas at the Chevaux-de-frise, and that they draw on this Board for the cost.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Mr. John Wilcocks, for two hundred and fifty Pounds, to be charged to the Gun-lock Manufactory carrying on in this City.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon and others, the Committee of Accounts, in favour of Mr. John Mitchell, Commissary of Provisions, for five hundred Pounds, to be charged to his account.

Adjourned to three o’clock.

Agreeable to adjournment, the following Members present:

Thomas Wharton, Jun., Chairman, James Biddle, George Gray, Henry Wynkoop, Samuel Howell, Owen Biddle, Daniel Roberdeau, Samuel Morris.

Resolved, That fourteen barrels of eighteen shillings Beer be sent down to the Gondolas, at the expense of this Board, and that Mr. Samuel Morris order the same to be put on board some boat or vessel for that purpose.

In Committee of Safety, May 11, 1776.

Present: John Nixon, Chairman, Daniel Roberdeau, George Clymer, Henry Wynkoop, George Gray, Samuel Howell, Samuel Morris, Jun., Robert White, James Biddle.

By order of the Board an Order was drawn on John Nixon, Esq., and others, the Committee of Accounts, for sixty Pounds, in favour of Messrs. Thomas Richardson and Levi Hollingsworth, which is to be charged to their account, being so much advanced towards their expenses in transporting twenty cannon lent this Province by Congress, now at Rhode-Island.

Thomas Slater, Master, and John Peckham, Mate, of the Brig Betsy, who came from Virginia with said vessel, to the Roebuck man-of-war, and taken by Captain Charles Alexander, commander of the Continental Schooner Wasp, near Newcastle, were, by order of the Board, committed to Jail, there to be kept in safe custody till the further orders of this Committee.

Resolved, That Robert Towers, Commissary, send to Wilmington, by one of the Stage-Boats, Captain Bush or Taylor, three quires of Cannon Cartridge-paper and three hundred weight of Gunpowder, to replace that quantity lent to the Gondolas by the Committee of that County.

By order of the Board the following Resolves of Congress were entered on the Minutes:

“In Congress, May 10, 1776.

“Resolved, That Lieutenant Ball, of the Roebuck, and the three seamen that were taken with him, and are now prisoners in the Lower Counties, be exchanged for Captain Budden and his son, Seth Davis, and Samuel Conyers.

“That five of the seamen now Prisoners in this City of Philadelphia, to be named by the Committee of Safety, may be given up in exchange for the following persons, viz: Mr. Lightboy, James Hage,— Fortescue, a Pilot-boy, William Martin, and Jacob Wilson.

“That the said exchange of Prisoners be conducted by such proper persons as the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania may appoint for that purpose.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

In consequence of the above Resolutions of Congress,

Resolved, That Captain James Craig be, and he is hereby, appointed to conduct the exchange of Prisoners there proposed; and this Committee name James Spencer, Thomas Philips, James Ogelvie, John Shad, and Owen Humphreys, as the five persons to be exchanged for Mr. Lightboy, James Hage, —Fortescue, a Pilot-boy, William Martin, and Jacob Wilson.

At the same time Captain Craig, by directions of Congress to this Board, is desired to give in exchange one other prisoner in the room of John Durry, now on board the Roebuck.

A Letter was written to the Committee of Safety of the Lower Counties, requesting they would take measures for sending Lieutenant Ball and the seamen, prisoners at Dover, up to Newcastle, to be delivered to Captain Craig, to be conducted by him on board the Roebuck, in order to be exchanged, agreeable to the Resolves of Congress.

This Committee having made application to Congress for twenty pieces of heavy Cannon out of those taken at New-Providence, for the defence of this Province, Robert Morris, Esq., delivered to the Board the following Resolve and Letter to Commodore Hopkins, viz:

“In Congress, May 7, 1776.

“Resolved, That twenty of the heaviest Cannon taken by Commodore Hopkins at New-Providence, and brought from thence to New-London, and since carried to Newport, be brought to the City of Philadelphia, and delivered to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, for the defence and protection of the said City; to remain there during the pleasure of Congress.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

“SIR: The Congress having, by the foregoing resolve, agreed to lend twenty of the heaviest cannon taken at Providence, and carried to Rhode-Island, to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, for the defence of this City, I have to desire you will immediately deliver the same to the person or persons whom the said Committee send to receive them, and bring them hither.

“I am, sir, your most humble servant,

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.

“To Commodore E. Hopkins, or in his absence to Daniel Tillinghast, Esq.”

“In Marine Committee, Philadelphia, May 10, 1776.

“SIR: You will perceive by the foregoing that Congress have ordered twenty of the cannon you brought from Providence to be improved in Philadelphia; and in order that the benefit of that order may be realized as soon as possible, we direct that you order the said twenty cannon to be put on board the Fly, or any one other of your vessels, and carried to New-York, and direct the commander of the vessel to call on General Washington for his further proceeding, to whom we shall write on the subject. This to be effected in the best manner you can, but by no means to be done to the prejudice of more essential service. The cannon, however, must be sent as speedily as possible by some conveyance that shall be judged best.

“To Commodore E. Hopkins.”

In consequence of the above Resolves and Letters of Congress, this Board came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Richardson and Mr. Levi Hollingsworth do, as soon as possible, proceed to